Hobbies And Interests
Family Colubridae
In North Carolina, there are 31 snakes categorized in the Colubridae family of snake. According to the Idaho Museum of Natural History, approximately 70 percent of all snake species are in the family Colubridae. All the snakes in North Carolina that are in the Colubridae family are nonpoisonous. Types of snakes in this family located in North Carolina include aquatic snakes like the Redbelly Water snake, Rainbow snake, Banded Water snake and the Carolina Swamp snake along with land-only snakes such as the Scarlet snake, Pine Woods Snake, Eastern King snake and the Southeastern Crowned snake.
Family Elapidae
North Carolina features one snake in the Elapidae family, the Eastern Coral snake. All members of the Elapidae family are poisonous. The Eastern coral snake is very venomous. It has a distinctive banding pattern along its body. The pattern is black, yellow and red. The scarlet snake of the Colubridae family mimics the stripe patterns of the coral snake to warn off predators. However, the order of the banding pattern is different on the scarlet snake, which is yellow, black and red.
Family Viperidae
North Carolina has five snakes that fall into the Viperidae or pit viper family of snakes. Three of the species are rattlesnakes including the Eastern diamondback, Timber and pygmy. The cottonmouth, also commonly called a water moccasin, and the copperhead are also found in North Carolina. All of these snakes are poisonous and should be approached carefully.
Identification of North Carolina Snakes
Davidson College offers a North Carolina snake identification website. Information required to be entered includes length, location, form, scales, pattern, background color, belly color, distinctive characteristics, time of day, behavior and if the snake was found in water. The website offers a guide to help with many of these characteristics. Davidson also offers a Snakes of North Carolina book that can aid in identification of snakes found within the state.